DAIMLER BUYS 20 BILLION EUROS OF BATTERY CELLS

Daimler AG buys more than 20 billion euros worth of battery cells between now and 2030. By 2022 the manufacturer wants to offer no less than 130 electric variants via Mercedes-Benz Cars. That is without the electrical versions in the van, bus and truck segment. Daimler is investing ten billion euros in the expansion of the electric fleet of Mercedes-Benz Cars and another billion euros in a worldwide battery production network.

The Mercedes-Benz suppliers already produce battery cells in Asia and Europe. In Europe the production capacity is currently being expanded. Mercedes-Benz Cars purchases the cells on the world market. According to Mercedes-Benz this ensures the best possible technology and focuses on the core competence of battery assembly. The global battery production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars will in the future consist of eight factories on three continents. The first factory in Kamenz is already in series production and the second factory there will start series production at the beginning of 2019. Two more factories will be built in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, one at the company’s Sindelfingen site, and one each at the sites in Beijing (China), Bangkok (Thailand) and Tuscaloosa (USA).

By 2025 Mercedes-Benz expects sales of battery-electric vehicles to increase to 15-25 percent of total unit sales. Series production in the bus segment began in autumn this year and the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro was recently delivered to Hamburg’s public transport operator – Hamburger Hochbahn AG. Mercedes-Benz Vans electrifies its entire commercial fleet. It starts with the all-electric mid-size van eVito, which has been delivered since November 2018. The eSprinter will follow in the second half of 2019.